Service installation



Dec. 11, 1956 F. MUELLER ET AL SERVICE INSTALLATION Original Filed Jan. 10, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS SERVICE INSTALLATION 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Jan. 10. 1950 INVENTORS ATTORNEY Dec. 11, 1956 F. MUELLER ET AL 2,773,618

SERVICE INSTALLATION Original Filed Jan.- 10, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ti E.

INVENTORS gm m uaw Wm W BY ATTORNEYS United States PatentO SERVICE INSTALLATION Frank H. Mueller and Walter J. Bowan, Decatur, Ill., as-

signors to Mueller Co., Decatur, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Original application January 10, 1950, Serial No. 137,768, now Patent No. 2,691,384, dated October 12, 1954. Divided and this application April 24, 1953, Serial No.

2 Claims. (Cl. 220-3.8)

The present invention relates to gas or water service installations or the like of the type usually employed at the curb to provide for closing or opening a branch line from the main line leading to a building which is supplied with the gas or water. This application is a division of our copending application, Serial No. 137,768, filed January 10, 1950, and now Patent No. 2,691,384.

The service installation is of a type having a tubular liner extending from the surface of the ground with a closure cap thereon, and with a housing and support at the lower end of the liner for the stop valve or cock, the liner being surrounded by filled in earth after installation and providing for the insertion of a tool therethrough to open and close the cock when desired.

It being understood that such installations when installed are left in place for long periods of time without any maintenance or upkeep, it is the principal object of the invention to provide such an installation which protects itself against rust and corrosion and protects the valve and pipes leading thereto against the application of any downwardly directed force which might injure these parts.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a tubular liner and attached cock-enclosing box of such design as to preclude the application of any pressure on the cock or its connecting pipes by the enclosing having an upper casing with a cover cap thereon of novel design, the construction being such that the threaded end and connecting portion of the upper casing is protected against corrosion and rust.

Another object of the invention is to provide a protective housing or box for the stop cock consisting of a unitary footpiece on which the base of the stop cock is supported, and an enclosing housing which rests upon the footpiece, there being complementary base flanges on the footpiece and the housing or box which are maintained in the same plane to form a substantially flat circular plate bearing on the ground and thus supporting the entire assembly. In connectionwith this objective, we have provided a footpiece of such design as to provide support for the cock beneath its base in such manner that no strains are exerted on the nipples attached to the cock nor on any pipe connections thereto, the usual arrangement for supporting the cock on its side nipples being eliminated.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention 3 line 4 4 of Figure 2;

Figure '5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 7--7 of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view through the bottom part of the installation showing a modified construction of the footpiece adapted for use with stop cocks of the smaller sizes;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 99 of Figure 8 and showing the stop cock mounted in operating position resting on the footpiece;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the preferred form of the footpiece, which form is particularly useful .in supporting stop cocks of the larger sizes, this type being shown in the assembly of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 11 is a horizontal sectional View taken along line 11-11 of Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a modified form of the footpiece, same being that type which is shown installed in Figures 8 and 9.

It will be understood that a purpose of the invention is to provide an installation which will accommodate stop cocks of various sizes, and with this intention, the cockenclosing box on the lower end of the tubular liner is made large enough and with large enough openings to accommodate a considerable range of sizes. In association with this same box, dilferent sizes and types of footpieces may be employed, depending on the size of the cock being installed, so that a range of sizes may be accommodated. In general, the foot piece of Figure 10 is employed with the cocks of larger sizes, whereas the Figure 12 type is used with the cocks of the smaller sizes, it being understood that the single enclosing housing or box will fit and will be used with both the Figure 10 and Figure 12 design of footpiece.

Referring to Figure l, the installation comprises in general a tubular liner L having a cock-enclosing box B at its lower end and a cover cap C at its upper end, there being a footpiece F which supports the entire assembly as well as the stop cock V which is supported on the footpiece and surrounded by the box.

-The tubular liner consists of an outer and lower casing 10 and an inner and upper casing 12 which telescopes in and with respect to the outer or lower casing.

The outer casing terminates at its lower end in an enlarged hollow enclosure portion 14 and there are diametrically opposed arch-like openings 16 and 17 in the side Wall of the enclosing portion 14, these arches being high and wide enough to pass the side nipples of stop cocks or various sizes without contact therewith, both the cock and the housing resting upon the footpiece F as hereinafter described.

It will be understood that the archways 16 and 17 are open at the bottom edge of the enclosure 14 so that they may pass downwardly around the stop cock until the enclosure rests upon the footpiece.

Referring particularly to Figure 10, the footpiece comprises a flat floor 18 on which the stop cock is supported, a short upwardly extending cylindrical wall 20 terminating in a horizontal supporting ledge 22, and an interrupted exterior base flange consisting of diametrically opposed segmental ground engaging plates 24 which are separated by open spaces 26. The bottoms of the plates 18 and 24 lie in the same plane so that the footpiece rests flatly on the ground presenting an extensive base area which precludes forcing of the footpiece into the ground to an undesirable extent.

Referring to Figure 1, it will be observed that the lower end of the housing 14 is hollowed out as at 28 in order to pass downwardly around the portion 20 of the footpiece in a somewhat loose manner, and this hollowedout portion terminates at its upper end in an interior circular ledge 30 which is adapted to engage and rest upon the face 22 of the footpiece when the housing reaches its properly supported position on the footpiece.

As shown in Figure 7, as well as in Figure 1, the housing 14 is provided with corresponding exterior oppositely disposed segmental base plates 32, which are arranged on the housing between the sides thereof in which the archways 16 and 17 are cut, and when the ledge 30 of the housing contacts the ledge 22 of the footpiece, the segmental ground engaging plates 32 lie in the same plane with the floor 18 of the footpiece which is the same plane as that of the segmental ground engaging plates 24 ,of the footpiece, whereby a substantially complete section having an extensive ground engaging area is provided. Therefore, when the parts are assembled as shown in Figure l, the weight of the housing and the tubular liner are carried on the footpiece, yet when the housing and the footpiece are in engagement, all of the ground engaging plates or surfaces of these two parts are in contact with the ground, thus providing a firm foundation for the entire installation.

It will further be apparent upon observing Figure 2 that the stop cock rests entirely on the floor 18 of the footpiece, and that the side nipples of the stop cock do not contact any part of the footpiece nor do they contact any of the walls of the archways in the walls of the housing 14.

As a strength provision, vertically inclined webs 34 may be provided extending between the segmental plates 32 and the side wall of the housing 14.

Referring to Figures 1 and 5, it will be noted that the wall of the outer casing 10 is somewhat enlarged on its opposite sides to provide diametrically opposed guiding grooves 36, and these grooves are designed to receive, in sliding engagement, outwardly extending lugs 38 on the lower end of the inner casing. Referring now to Figures 2 and 6, it will be observed that the upper end of the enclosure 14 about the plate where it joins the lower end of casing 10 is provided with an inwardly extending circular ledge 40, this ledge being in two opposed parts as shown in Figure 6 and being interrupted at diametrically opposed points by slots 42, the slots being of a width slightly greater than that of the lugs 38.

Above the ledge 40, there are opposed interior circular grooves 44 in the lower end of the casing 10, these grooves being of a height slightly greater than that of the lugs 38 and extending throughout substantially 90 from the slots 42 to the vertical grooves 36.

As a result or" the above construction, and at the time of installation, the inner casing with its cover cap removed may be inserted upwardly into the outer casing, by aligning the lugs 38 on the inner casing with the slots 42 on the outer casing. When the lugs pass through the slots to a point above the ledge 40, the two casings may be relatively rotated in proper direction until the lugs pass around the circular slot 44 to a point below the vertical slots 36, whereupon the upper casing maybe telescoped outwardly and upwardly with respect to the lower casing to make a tubular linerof any desired length depending upon the depth of installation of the stop cock, there being a limit to this lengthening of the liner depending on the position of the upper abutment ends of the slots 36 near the upper end of the outer casing, as indicated at in Figure 2.

It will be apparent from Figure 6 that there can be no error in properly aligning the lugs 38 with vertical slots 36, for the rotary movement of the former in the circular slots 44 is limited by the terminal ends 52 of these circular slots, said ends being so positioned that the lugs are in register with the vertical slots 36 when they contact these terminal walls. c

When the parts have thus been assembled, it is not possible for the inner casing 12 to drop downwardly to a sufiicient extent to injure the valve, for the ledge 49 provides an abutment limiting the downward relative movement of the inner casing. It is only by an intentional reverse rotation of the two casings with respect to one another with the lugs 38 in the circular slots 44 that the lugs could again be brought into register with the slots 42 in order to permit the lower end of the inner casing to pass downwardly into the enclosure 14.

At the upper end of the outer casing it), there is the usual means for temporarily holding the inner casing in adjusted vertical position with respect to the outer casing, for instance, at the time when the hole is being filled in around the tubular liner after the stop cock is installed. This means comprises an annular groove 56 in the interior wall of the outer casing 10, and the usual split ring 53 in that groove and closely embracing the inner casing 1'2. As is well understood in the art, such an arrangement will permit elongating or shortening the tubular liner when sufficient force is applied, but the parts are held in any adjusted position when no force is applied, so that they can be ultimately retained in the adjusted position as by filling in around the liner with earth and beneath the cover cap of the inner casing.

It will be understood that during the telescoping adjustment of the two casings, as just described, the cover cap will be removed and after the inner casing is inserted into the outer casing, this cover cap may be threaded and secured on the upper end of the inner casing.

eferring to Figures 1 and 2, the cover cap comprises a top plate 60 having a central hub portion 62 depending therefrom, there being radial webs 64 to strengthen the cap. The interior wall of the hub has a counterbore 66 formed therein, and received therein is circular collar or non-ferrous bushing 68 which lines the interior wall of the hub 62. The bushing is interiorly threaded to connect with the, threads 79 on the upper end of the casing 12, and ithas a lower depending skirt 72 of adequate length to extend a substantial distance below the threads, this extending portion of the bushing below the threads having a smooth bore.

The cover cap is made of cast iron and the upper casing 12 is made of steel which is painted or galvanized. A serious weakness of prior art constructions has been that the upper casing section has a tendency to rust in two at the base of the threads due to being in contact with the earth Which contains corrosive elements which attack exposed portions of steel pipe.

The downwardly extending skirt of the bushing 68 which has the smooth bore fits closely around the unthreaded portion of the steel pipe. As the steel pipe is galvanized or painted up to its threads, the non-ferrous skirt provides a close fitting housing to protect the threads.

A closure plug 74 is threaded into the bushing 68 above the end of the casing 12 This plug may be made of brass or plated non-ferrous metal, and it protects the housing of the end of the upper casing 12 against earth and moisture, thus greatly prolonging the life of the installation.

The arrangement using the modified footpiece for stop cocks of the smaller sizes is shown in Figures 8, 9, 11, and 12. Referring to Figure 12, the footpiece has the same floor, designated 18, to support the base of the stop cocks as previously described. It also has opposed cylindrical portions 20' having top stop faces 22' to engage the shoulder 30 in the socket 28 of the housing 14 as previously described, but the portions 20' are not continuous in that they connect with integral opposed sets of upstanding lugs 80 which are disposed exteriorly of the lower end of the housing 14 (as shown in Figure 9) when the parts are assembled. These upstanding lugs 80 are provided with cut-outs '82 of hexagonal or other appropriate configuration to receive the similarly formed extending nipples of the stop cock, as will likewise be apparent from Figure 9. On the interior of this footpiece, there are opposed lugs 84 to loosely engage the hexagonal closure cap at the base of the stop cock when it rests on the floor of the footpiece, to centrally position the stop cock in and on the footpiece. It will 'be understood that the upstanding portion 20' of the footpiece fits somewhat loosely within the socket 28 at the lower end of the housing 14.

At the opposed sides of the footpiece in line with the branch conduit, there are outwardly extending segmental ground engaging plates 24', and it will be apparent from Figures 8, 9, and 11 that these segmental plates complement and lie in the same plane as the corresponding plates 32 on the lower end of the housing, thus providing the extensive circular area to engage the ground and provide a firm foundation for the installation, all as previously described.

While the lugs 84 may be useful in centering stop cocks of the smaller sizes, it will be understood that in the preferred embodiment of Figure 1 the corners of the hexagonal closure on the bottom of the stop cock fit rather closely against the inside wall of the circular rim 20, thus loosely centering the stop cock in the footpiece.

In both embodiments, the segmental ground engaging plates interlock in a somewhat loose manner so that no machining of the castings is necessary.

In all embodiments, it will be noted that the design provides for the entire weight of the stop cock resting against the bottom of the footpiece, and thus there is no possibility of breaking off the nipples of the stop cock as was the case in prior art constructions Where the stop cock bridged the footpiece while being supported by its nipples.

Both the footpiece and the housing, as described, may be cast and placed in use Without the necessity of any machine work on them, and when assembled together, they are somewhat loosely locked against relative rotary movement.

It will be apparent that we have provided an improved installation of the character. described of a design which fully supports and completely protects the stop cock against any injurious forces which might otherwise be applied to it, and further, that we have provided such an installation capable of accommodating stop cocks which may be of considerable variation in size. The installation is characterized by the simplicity and economy of its manufacture and has features referred to which give it long life without maintenance.

We claim:

1. In a stop cock box installation a ferrous tubular liner for the well to the cock having exterior screw threads on its upper end, and a ferrous cover cap removably secured on the upper end of said liner, said cap having an opening therethrough and a non-ferrous sleeve in said opening and rigidly secured to said cap, said sleeve having interior screw threads engaged completely with those on said liner to secure said cap thereto, said sleeve threads extending upwardly beyond said liner upper end for reception of an exteriorly threaded closure plug and said sleeve having a skirt below its said threads snugly engaging the exterior surface of said liner below its said threads to protect the latter.

2. In a stop cock box installation of the character described, a ferrous tubular liner having an exteriorly threaded upper end, a ferrous cover cap removably secured on said end and having a hub portion lined with a sleeve of non-ferrous metal, said sleeve having interior threads throughout a length greater than the length of the threaded portion of said liner and engaged with said threaded portion to secure said cap to said liner, said sleeve also having a skirt below its threaded portion extending below the threads on said liner and snugly engaging the latter below its threads to protect the latter, and a plug having at least its entire surface of non-ferrous metal threaded into the upper end of said sleeve and against the upper end of said liner.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 307,558 Lindsley Nov. 4, 1884 852,359 Walcott et al Apr. 30, 1907 1,081,281 Tyler Dec. 9, 1913 1,394,754 Mueller Oct. 25, 1921 1,486,707 Warner Mar. 11, 1924 2,022,267 Zeek Nov. 26, 1935 

